Huskies Move Young Cornerback to Running Back

Redshirt freshman D'Aryhian Clemons shifts positions to bolster depth at RB due to injuries.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 9:20pm

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting the lower body of a college football player in motion, with sharp, overlapping planes in the team colors of the University of Washington Huskies.A cubist interpretation of a University of Washington running back showcases the team's depth and versatility at the position.Washington Today

The University of Washington football team has moved redshirt freshman D'Aryhian Clemons from cornerback to running back, as the Huskies deal with injuries to key running back transfers Jayden Limar and Trey Cooley who will miss spring practice. Clemons was a standout high school running back before joining the Huskies.

Why it matters

The Huskies are looking to build depth at the running back position with several key players sidelined due to injuries, so the position change for Clemons could provide an opportunity for the young player to earn playing time and contribute to the team's offense.

The details

Clemons, who appeared in two games for the Huskies last season in the defensive secondary, was a 1,037-yard rusher on 152 carries as a sophomore in 2022 at Spanaway Lake High School. With Limar (Oregon) and Cooley (Troy) both recovering from ankle and knee surgeries, respectively, and unavailable for spring practice, head coach Jedd Fisch said the team wanted to 'make sure we had good competition at running back' by moving Clemons to the position.

  • On March 29, 2026, Jedd Fisch announced the position change for Clemons, 24 hours before the start of spring practice.

The players

Jedd Fisch

The third-year head coach of the University of Washington football team.

D'Aryhian Clemons

A redshirt freshman who has moved from cornerback to running back for the Huskies.

Jayden Limar

A running back transfer from Oregon who is recovering from an ankle injury and will miss spring practice.

Trey Cooley

A running back transfer from Troy who is recovering from a knee injury and will miss spring practice.

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What they’re saying

“With Jayden Limar and Cooley out for the spring, we wanted to make sure we had good competition at running back. He's very talented as a a runner. We felt like we were in a good place to a degree at DB.”

— Jedd Fisch, Head Coach, University of Washington

What’s next

The Huskies will continue to monitor the progress of Limar and Cooley as they recover from their injuries, with the goal of having them available for the start of the 2026 season.

The takeaway

The Huskies' decision to move Clemons to running back highlights the importance of building depth at key positions, especially when dealing with injuries to key players. This position change could provide Clemons with an opportunity to earn playing time and contribute to the team's offense in the upcoming season.